In a recent interview with Rotem Farkash, cybersecurity expert and AI startup founder, we discussed how artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize the software industry, offering unprecedented opportunities for growth and innovation whilst simultaneously enhancing cybersecurity measures.
The rapid adoption of AI by some of the world’s largest companies such as Microsoft and Apple is reshaping the software landscape. In 2023, large enterprises spent approximately $15 billion on AI solutions, marking a significant milestone as AI now accounts for approximately 2% of the global enterprise software market. This rapid growth is indicative of the massive disruption AI is bringing to the sector.
As an industry leader in this space, Rotem Farkash, who founded an AI startup after a long career in cybersecurity, is looking to create significant value creation across almost all software categories with AI.
“Natural language interfaces, customized content creation, automated workflows, and enhanced unstructured data ingestion are just some of the ways that AI can be leveraged to enhance efficiency in software development”, he told Geek Wire.
Boosting productivity
The latest estimates suggest that AI can boost productivity by 35 to 45%, leading to lower costs and faster development cycles.
With AI allowing developers to rapidly create and refine innovative features, patch bugs, and continuously enhance their offerings, Farkash is optimistic: “What we are seeing here is another industrial revolution, where the increase in productivity may be larger than any we have seen before”.
As we all know, coding is often not just a science, but an art. When asked whether the creative side of software development may stifle creativity, Farkash has an answer for that too: “Not at all. AI-driven tools are first and foremost going to be used to automate routine tasks, whether it’s documenting code functionality or refactoring code. This will actually lead to more creativity, as once developers are unburdened by routine tasks, they can focus on more complex and creative aspects of software development”.
Transforming User Dynamics
Software is not only there to be developed, but also to be enjoyed and engaging for users. With companies shifting to more AI-driven software, roles that are heavily administrative or customer service-oriented, such as HR, customer assistants, and personal assistants are likely to see significant changes as AI automates many of their tasks.
Farkash wants to see AI used to democratize software: “What we’re looking for is a way for AI to make expert software more accessible and usable. We already have the software to optimize administrative services, but their user base is limited as long as they are impractical and complex. If AI can automate some of these processes, more people can leverage sophisticated tools without extensive and expensive training”.
AI’s Role in Cybersecurity
In addition to transforming software development, AI is playing a critical role in enhancing cybersecurity. As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, AI’s capabilities in data analysis and pattern recognition are essential for identifying and mitigating risks in real-time.
Farkash, who has decades of cybersecurity experience, has a wealth of knowledge to share: “My entire cybersecurity career has been about creatively and proactively detecting cybersecurity threats. Staying ahead of malware as cyber-attacks become increasingly advanced and hard to find requires you to be constantly on the lookout for kinks in your defenses”.
“Sometimes, something that was previously very secure can be compromised by new and innovative attack vectors, and we must constantly cross-reference these new innovations with our existing software”.
AI can automate many routine security tasks, such as monitoring network traffic, scanning for vulnerabilities, and managing security patches. This not only reduces the workload for cybersecurity teams but also ensures that potential threats are addressed promptly, minimizing the risk of breaches.
“AI can make this job easier and more comprehensive. AI-driven cybersecurity tools will be able to analyze truly vast amounts of data to detect anomalies and potential threats. Way faster than humans. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, these tools can identify these kinks in our defenses for cybersecurity professionals to then fortify”.
In the event of a security incident, AI can assist in coordinating a rapid and effective response. “When responding to a cyber-attack, you first have to understand the nature and scope of the attack, before taking the right measures. AI-driven tools can be used to analyze cyber-attacks and even automate certain aspects of the response process. With the right human touch who can translate AI-driven analysis into action, companies will be able to contain and mitigate the effects of cyber-attacks swiftly and effectively”.
Shaking up the software industry
AI is driving seismic changes in the global software sector, offering the potential for significant growth and innovation while also enhancing cybersecurity. “We’re still exploring AI’s potential in software development and cybersecurity” asserts Farkash, who plans to be in on the ground floor.
“Those that proactively adapt to AI will thrive in the new era, and everyone else will have to catch up”.
Disclaimer: GeekWire newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content..